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Yamaha R-N803 one of the best values in high-end audio?

I’ve now lived with the Yamaha R-N803 STEREO receiver (it is not an audio/video receiver) for over 6 months. I believe it’s one of the best values in high-end audio. For $750, you get a preamp, amp, phono preamp, DAC, and Wi-Fi streamer (Tidal, Spotify, Pandora, etc) all controlled by Yamaha’s excellent Android/IPad MusicCast app. The amp is a discrete 100 wpc into 8 ohms with two pairs of binding posts for each channel. The DAC supports up to DSD 5.6 MHz and the internet connection can be wired or wireless. It has the YPAO (Yamaha Parametric Room Acoustic Optimizer) which is an automatic speaker calibration system. Its well engineered and made. I’ve read reviews of other All-In-One (AIO) units with various problems such as supposedly having Wi-Fi streaming but it never materializes or doesn’t work, or having insufficient power, or hum problems. The Yamaha has non of those problems.

The sound quality is excellent right-out-of-the-box but (as with a lot of gear) an upgraded power cord, footers and fuse (please don’t go off on "the fuse debate") substantially improved its sound quality. The soundstage width, depth and height is excellent. The midrange clarity is very, very good as well as the control of the bass. The treble improved the most with the upgrades but is now excellent.

I don’t know of any AIOs, or even systems, anywhere near $750 that does all of this so well. Have others tried this unit? What do you think? Are there better ones out there in this price range with the same or more functions?

128x128sbayne
kren0006
1,859 posts
 
The biggest thing that tipped me toward the marantz was the superior dac vs the Yamaha. Marantz uses 32 bit AK 4490 dac, while the Yamaha uses a 24 bit ess 9006 dac. To me that alone was more than worth the extra $250, as I much prefer AK sound to ess sound, but that’s personal preference.

I also like the toroidal transformer that the marantz uses in its power supply vs the EI transformer the Yamaha uses (note the brand new Yamaha integrated amps at much higher msrps just went toroidal as well).

But again, no slight of the Yamaha and I agree it’s great deal for $750. Just explaining why the marantz was worth the extra cost to me.
sbayne's avatar
sbayne OP
493 posts
 
@kren0006 - all good points. 

@mike_in_nc - I didn't like what the YPAO did. It just doesn’t sound as good as the Pure Direct feature and then tuning by ear.  I messed around with ARC on an Anthem integrated at a dealer. The salesperson just kind of stood there and watched. So I didn’t get much from it.  
mike_in_nc
1,163 posts
 
@sbayne - My experience is, all those programs (e.g., YPAO, ARC) have a learning curve if you want to get the best from them. Careful measurement, careful listening, careful tweaking. That said, none of that matters if you're doing it all by ear (the final judge).
sbayne's avatar
sbayne OP
493 posts
 
@mike_in_nc - yeah that's probably true. I admit I wasn't very patient with YPAO. Since I've been working from home because of COVID-19 this may a good time delve in to it again.
doogabayne
3 posts
 
@sbayne Another Bayne here, I'm debating between Yamaha R-N803 and the Marantz PM7000N.  I have the Marantz and it sounds great except for the midrange is a little lacking for my ears but otherwise it is amazing.  I have other Yamaha equipment and want to keep the MusicCast ecosystem.  One problem with the Marantz is that it gets real loud even at 25% (driving B&W 606 S2) so there is some detail I miss at lower volumes and the next tick is too loud (using the app).  How is the Yamaha sound and volume?
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